The Pope

There is also another fish called a POPE, and or Ruffe by some a RUFFE; a fish that is not known to

be in some rivers: he is much like the Perch
for his shape, and taken to be better than the
Perch, but will not grow to be bigger than a
Gudgeon. He is an excellent fish; no fish
that swims is of a pleasanter taste.
And he is
also excellent to enter a young angler, for he is
a greedy biter: and they will usually lie,
abundance of them together, in one reserved
place, where the water is deep and runs quietly;
and an easy angler, if he has found where they
lie, may catch forty or fifty, or sometimes twice
so many, at a standing.

You must fish for him with a small red worm; and if you bait the ground with earth, it is excellent.

There is also a BLEAK or fresh-water Sprat ; a fish that is ever in motion, and therefore called by some the river-swallow; for just as you shall observe the swallow to be, most evenings in summer, ever in motion, making short and quick turns when he flies to catch flies, in the air, by which he lives; so does the Bleak at the top of the water. Ausonius would have called him Bleak from his whitish colour: his back is of a pleasant sad or sea-water-green; his belly, white and shining as the mountain snow. And doubtless, though we have the fortune, which virtue has in poor people, to be neglected, yet the Bleak ought to be much valued, though we want Allamot sauce, and the skill that the Italians have, to turn them into anchovies. This fish may be caught with a Pater-noster line; that is, six or eight very small hooks tied along

the line, one half a foot above the other: I The have seen five caught thus at one time; and the Bleak bait has been gentles, than which none is better.

Or this fish may be caught with a fine small artificial fly, which is to be of a very sad brown colour, and very small, and the hook answerable. There is no better sport than whipping for Bleaks in a boat, or on a bank, in the swift water, in a summer's evening, with a hazel top about five or six foot long, and a line twice the length of the rod. I have heard Sir Henry Wotton say, that there be many that in Italy will catch swallows so, or especially martins; this birdangler standing on the top of a steeple to do it, and with a line twice so long as I have spoken of. And let me tell you, scholar, that both Martins and Bleaks be most excellent meat.

And let me tell you, that I have known a Heron, that did constantly frequent one place, caught with a hook baited with a big minnow or a small gudgeon. The line and hook must be strong and tied to some loose staff, so big as she cannot fly away with it: a line not exceeding two yards.

:

THE FOURTH DAY-continued
Is of nothing, or of nothing worth
Chapter XVI

PISCATOR, VENATOR, PETER, CORIDON

PISCATOR. My purpose was to give you some directions concerning ROACH and DACE, and some other inferior fish which make the angler excellent sport; for you know

Peter and there is more pleasure in hunting the hare than Coridon in eating her: but I will forbear, at this time, to

say any more, because you see yonder come our brother Peter and honest Coridon. But I will promise you, that as you and I fish and walk to-morrow towards London, if I have now forgotten anything that I can then remember, I will not keep it from you.

Well met, gentlemen; this is lucky that we meet so just together at this very door. Come, hostess, where are you? is supper ready? Come, first give us a drink; and be as quick as you can, for I believe we are all very hungry. Well, brother Peter and Coridon, to you both! Come, drink and then tell me what luck of fish: we two have caught but ten trouts, of which my scholar caught three. Look! here's eight, and a brace we gave away. We have had a most pleasant day for fishing and talking, and are returned home both weary and hungry; and now meat and rest will be pleasant.

PETER. And Coridon and I have not had an unpleasant day: and yet I have caught but five trouts; for, indeed, we went to a good honest ale-house, and there we played at shovel-board half the day; all the time that it rained we were there, and as merry as they that fished. And I am glad we are now with a dry house over our heads; for, hark! how it rains and blows. Come, hostess, give us more ale, and our supper with what haste you may: and when we have supped, let us have your song, Piscator; and the catch that your scholar promised us; or else, Coridon will be dogged.

PISCATOR. Nay, I will not be worse than my

word; you shall not want my song, and I hope PiscaI shall be perfect in it. tor's song VENATOR. And I hope the like for my catch, which I have ready too: and therefore let's go merrily to supper, and then have a gentle touch at singing and drinking; but the last with moderation.

CORIDON. Come, now for your song; for we have fed heartily. Come, hostess, lay a few more sticks on the fire. And now, sing when you will.

PISCATOR. Well then, here's to you, Coridon; and now for my song.

Pisca

tor's song

Where in a brook

With a hook,

Or a lake,

Fish we take:

There we sit,
For a bit,

Till we fish entangle.

We have gentles in a horn,

We have paste and worms too; We can watch both night and morn, Suffer rain and storms too;

None do here

Use to swear;
Oaths do fray
Fish away;
We sit still,

And watch our quill;

Fishers must not wrangle,

If the sun's excessive heat
Make our bodies swelter,
To an osier hedge we get
For a friendly shelter;
Where, in a dike,
Perch or Pike,
Roach or Dace,
We do chase;
Bleak or Gudgeon,
Without grudging;

We are still contented.